The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced the winners of its 2026 Sustainability Innovation Awards, recognizing innovation and leadership across five categories: Leadership in Sustainability Innovation, Sustainability Innovation in Design, Sustainability Innovation in Material, Sustainability Innovation in End-of-Life, and Social Impact. This year’s winners highlight advancements across the plastics value chain—from circular design and next-generation materials to closed-loop systems and workforce leadership.
Award recipients include:
- Leadership in Sustainability Innovation Award: LyondellBasell – LYB Cincinnati Technology Center (CTC) Circularity Lab
- Sustainability Innovation in Design Award: Greiner Packaging Corporation – K3® r100 self-separating cardboard-plastic packaging
- Sustainability Innovation in Material Award: Ecovaleric – e-P4HV biobased material
- Sustainability Innovation in End-of-Life Award: Plastic Ingenuity – Pharmaceutical closed-loop recycling with thermoformed trays
- Social Impact Award: Ecolopharm – Socially impactful workplace practices
“This year’s Sustainability Innovation Award winners demonstrate how sustainability is being put into action across the plastics industry—from packaging design and material innovation to end-of-life solutions,” said Patrick Krieger, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Policy at PLASTICS. “These award-winning innovations show what’s possible when companies focus on practical, scalable solutions that improve recyclability, expand the use of recycled content, and deliver measurable environmental impact.”
“Finding solutions that advance circularity takes innovation and expertise,” said Harry Mavridis, Director of Product Development and Circular Design at LyondellBasell (LYB). “The team at our Cincinnati Technology Center (CTC) Circularity Lab develops solutions for our customers across a number of industries, leveraging our innovative spirit, technical know-how and global integrated ecosystem to help meet the challenges of tomorrow, today. We are proud to be recognized by the Plastics Industry Association for our team’s work to advance circularity and sustainability.”
“K3® r100 is already a highly innovative packaging solution, combining the key advantages of plastic, such as extended shelf life, with a significant reduction in plastic usage. Thanks to the automatic separation of materials, the plastic component can be directed into the appropriate recycling stream. With K3® r100, we are taking a major step forward toward a circular economy,” said Jonas Kristensson, Director of Commercial Operations, Greiner.
“e-P4HV expands the capabilities of bioplastics. By combining high performance with designed biodegradability and a new electricity-driven pathway from biomass, our material opens applications where functionality and end-of-life must work together. We’re honored to have this innovation recognized by the plastics industry,” said Roberta Leão, Ecovaleric.
“We’re pleased to help advance circularity in the pharmaceutical industry with the success of this take-back program, and excited for the greater visibility this award helps bring to end-of-life sustainability initiatives,” said Zach Muscato, Director of Sustainability & Innovation at Plastic Ingenuity.
“Sustainable innovation is not built on a single breakthrough idea, but on hundreds of smart decisions made throughout the development process. Behind every choice of material, format, or process lies a concrete opportunity to reduce our footprint. At EcoloPharm, we believe that eco-design is not a compromise, but a better way to design and manufacture. By doing more with less, we can generate real impact: environmental, operational, and economic,” said Sandrine Milante, CEO, EcoloPharm.
